NCT 127 poses during a press conference held ahead of the release of "Blingy" at Lotte Tower in southern Seoul on Monday. (SM Entertainment) NCT 127 has reached the 10-year mark, but not in the way its members once imagined.For fans who have watched the group grow since its 2016 debut, the milestone arrives with a different lineup, as two members are serving in the military, and a new album that reflects how much has changed — and what remains.“Blingy,” NCT 127’s seventh full-length album, released Monday, marks the group’s first major release in nearly two years since “Walk” in July 2024.The album is more than a 10th anniversary milestone. It is a snapshot of where the group stands now: five members leading promotions, seven contributing to the album, and all nine members still part of the group’s larger story.At a press conference at Lotte World Tower in southern Seoul on Monday, leader Taeyong acknowledged that the group’s reality was different from the future he had pictured when they debuted.“Back when we debuted, the picture I imagined of us 10 years later was one where everyone was still together,” Taeyong said. “There have been many changes involving members over the years, and there were times when those changes were painful and difficult to adjust to.”But the changes, he said, also brought the remaining members closer.“The seven members who remain want to repay the memories and trust we’ve built with our fans over the past 10 years,” he said. “When we came together again after some time apart, I felt that we trusted and relied on one another even more.”That sense of renewed trust is central to “Blingy,” which Taeyong said was made to show “an even better version of NCT 127.” NCT 127 poses with cardboard cutouts of members Doyoung (left) and Jungwoo, during a press conference held ahead of the release of "Blingy" at Lotte Tower in southern Seoul on Monday. (Yonhap) The album’s title track, “Blingy,” translates that ambition into sound. The hip-hop track combines distorted synth sounds and heavy drum beats with elements of rage and dubstep. Haechan said the song was chosen over “Pinata” and “Legacy” because it best showcased what the current five-member lineup could deliver both musically and onstage.At the same time, “Blingy” makes room for the NCT 127 that fans have known for years.“127 Million Miles,” the album’s only track featuring all seven members, was recorded before Doyoung and Jungwoo began their mandatory military service. The pop-rock fan song centers on the idea that NCT 127 and its fans remain connected regardless of distance."There were parts those members were particularly good at, so of course their absence could be felt," Haechan said. "But the five members promoting this album also have the ability to fill those spaces. We approached the album with confidence, and I'm proud of how it turned out."Taeyong also addressed the departure of former bandmate Mark, who left NCT and SM Entertainment in July. The NCT 127 leader described Mark as someone he “continues to respect.”“As someone who walked this path with him for 10 years, I personally have a lot of respect for Mark,” he said. “I saw from being by his side how hard he worked while being part of two teams, and that makes me want to support him. We are now walking different paths, so all I want to say is that I respect and support the path he has chosen.”After a decade in an industry built around constant reinvention, the members said they remain proudest of their willingness to experiment.Jaehyun said NCT 127’s biggest achievement has been its continued willingness to challenge itself through different music, concepts and performances.That mindset will carry into the group’s second decade. Johnny said he hopes NCT 127 can continue living up to its reputation as a “god of performance,” while Taeyong said the group wants to keep expanding its musical identity and eventually take on even bigger performances when Doyoung and Jungwoo return from military service.The album is the group’s first major release since its sixth LP, “Walk,” in July 2024, and its first since the remaining members renewed their contracts with SM Entertainment on July 15.NCT 127 is one of several units under NCT, SM Entertainment’s umbrella that operates through multiple teams with distinct identities and member combinations.For now, the group has already mapped out its next move. NCT 127 will kick off its fifth world tour, “Neo City — The Redline,” with three concerts at KSPO Dome in southern Seoul from Sept. 18-20. NCT 127 speaks during a press conference held ahead of the release of "Blingy" at Lotte Tower in southern Seoul on Monday. (Yonhap)